All About Pocket Knives

Hi guys. I just bought a couple of Case canoes (pics in the beans and canoes post pg.2) One is from '92 and the other '96.

They don't have the CV or SS stamping that I'm used to seeing on the newer knives.

Anybody know what the blades are?

Thanks - TM

I would say the one on the left is CV the one on the right is questionable.

Thanks for the quick reply, MM. So, here is what I'm wondering... I was under the impression that originally all of Cases knives were made from the same steel (similiar to CV) and at some point they started using SS. I thought that all of their knives were stamped to show what the blades were made of. I have seen the word 'stainless' as part of some of the old tang stamps as far back as the late 40's. Have they just not been consistent with stamping blade material? How did you know what you were buying if you had a preference?

well the brown box was mostly used with CV knives, with canoes it's easy for part of the tang stamp to be hidden beneath the bolster.

All stainless bladed Case knives will have either the word STAINLESS (older knives) and/or the letters SS somewhere on one or more of the blades, including after the pattern number. There are other ways to tell but that's the simplest. If no where on the knife is SS or STAINLESS then it is CV.

Thanks for your answers muskrat man and knifeaholic. So, it is only SS when the blades are stamped SS - I was hoping that would be the 'case'

TM, do you feel the CV blades are better metal than the SS? IMO I think the carbon blades are much better than the SS blades. I'm just speaking from a working/user knife point of view. I'm new to knife collecting myself so I have no knowledge of which would be more wanted by collectors. Anyone else have an opinion on SS or CV blades?

For show, i like SS. For work, I prefer the CV.

Duffy -

I prefer CV. It's easier to resharpen and I like the blades to have a patina. I'll buy SS when it's the only thing available in a pattern or handle I want, but I would rather have a carbon blade

I know what you mean TM. There's just something about the look of a turned carbon blade that draws me to it. Kinda like a bug to a bug zapper. IMO I think the dark blade makes the handle color stand out more.